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Congressional Newsletters

RAND Congressional newsletters and alerts highlight our research on the most relevant issues in the public policy debate. See the most recent issues below.

Opioids

In Case You Missed It: Evolution of the U.S. Overdose Crisis

Sep 21, 2018

RAND's Bryce Pardo discusses China's role in the production and supply of synthetic opioids and outlines some actions lawmakers can take to reduce this problem beyond traditional drug policy tools.
United States Air Force

Is the U.S. Air Force Flying Force Large Enough?

Sep 20, 2018

By using historical evidence to estimate demands on the U.S. Air Force flying force in four possible futures, new RAND research sheds light on potential future force requirements. RAND researchers found that the current force experiences capacity shortfalls in all four scenarios and that no class of aircraft performs well across all scenarios.
Military Force Planning

Improving Force Development Within the Department of Defense

Aug 31, 2018

In wargames depicting future hypothetical conflicts against the nation’s most capable adversaries, programmed U.S. forces repeatedly have failed to achieve their primary operational objectives and have suffered heavy losses in doing so. What can the Defense Department and Congress do to ensure the military is capable of succeeding in potential future conflicts?
United States

A Summer Reading List for Congress

Aug 23, 2018

RAND provides essential reading for hill staffers during the 2018 summer recess. Some of the big issues Congress will be wrestling with include gun policy, infrastructure, and health care.
Health Care Costs

What are the effects of eliminating the individual mandate penalty?

Aug 16, 2018

Starting in 2019, the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate penalty will be eliminated. According to a new study, 3 million to 13 million fewer people would have health insurance by 2020 and most premiums for individual market plans would increase by 3 to 13 percent, depending on which assumptions are in play.
Homeland Security Legislation

Catch Up Quick: Homeland Security Issues for Congress

Aug 14, 2018

Catch up on the homeland security issues facing Congress, including cybersecurity, the Coast Guard and United States border, and countering violent extremism.
Nuclear Weapons and Warfare

In Case You Missed It: Russian Nuclear Forces and Prospects for Arms Control

Aug 2, 2018

RAND's Austin Long discusses Russia's newest nuclear delivery systems and the current barriers to reaching an arms control negotiation.
Military Personnel

How Well Are Service Members Taking Care of Themselves?

Jul 31, 2018

RAND updated, administered, and analyzed data from the most recent Defense Department Health Related Behaviors Survey in 2015. The results suggest that certain groups of service members warrant targeted intervention to prevent multiple negative health outcomes and to improve current behaviors.
Marijuana

What are the Impacts of Medical Marijuana Advertising on Adolescents?

Jul 31, 2018

As legalization of recreational marijuana becomes prevalent across multiple states, many policymakers will face complex choice when it comes to regulations.
Nuclear Deterrence

The Korean Peninsula: Three Dangerous Scenarios

Jun 29, 2018

Should follow-on talks fail to resolve key issues in regard to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the military situation in Korea could remain very dangerous. What security challenges should the United States prepare for on the Korean Peninsula?
Cybersecurity

Protecting Consumer Data: Considerations for Congress

Jun 28, 2018

What policy opportunities could Congress consider to better protect consumer data? Rebecca Balebako and John Davis discuss the benefits and risks of data sharing at both the personal and industry level.
Education Policy

School Safety in the U.S.

Jun 27, 2018

In the wake of several school shootings, policymakers have been weighing proposals aimed at improving school safety. Many of these promote technologies such as metal detectors and video cameras. How effective are these devices?